"The five minutes are up. Now providing the optimal plan to defeat the enemy."
Mu Yun's eyes lifted slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning. The Zeus Creative Neurological System clearly projected the analysis results into his mind.
"Target Level: Mid‑Golden Core cultivator."
"Behavioral Style: Cold, cautious, vengeful. Possesses strong divine consciousness control and artifact‑wielding abilities. Accustomed to a domineering, suppressing fighting style."
"Combat Capabilities as follows:"
"Artifact Attack: Possesses a large seal‑type artifact of unknown rank, controllable by spiritual sense and capable of aerial suppression."
"One seal primarily traps the enemy, creating spatial pressure and forming a localized 'Zhang curvature field.' The other seal delivers lethal force, releasing a high‑pressure spiritual energy blast that can heavily damage early‑Golden Core cultivators."
"Divine Consciousness Attack: Possesses Golden Core‑level divine consciousness attack methods, usable for soul searching or suppression. Can extinguish the divine consciousness of others from a distance, posing a great threat to lower‑level cultivators."
"Spiritual Pressure Threat: The conventional pressure of a high‑level cultivator, forcibly slowing the opponent's reaction time and impairing their judgment of spiritual opportunities."
"Based on current engagements, only the above attack methods can be summarized. The possibility of other attack methods—especially spell‑based attacks—cannot be ruled out."
"Recommended Defeat Strategy as follows:"
"The current target possesses overwhelming single‑combat capability, strong persistent tracking, and multiple suppression methods. Given the current low energy reserve, a direct confrontation offers extremely low chances of victory. It is recommended to use the terrain and technological traps to implement a phased lure‑and‑kill tactic."
"Phase One: Immediately activate the 'Antimatter Disturbance Module' to disrupt the local spiritual energy structure, create perceptual confusion and mild mental tremor, reducing the target's lock‑on accuracy. At the same time, a sudden attack will serve as bait."
"Success rate: 92%."
"Phase Two: Using the terrain, lure the enemy to the 'Crooked Old Tree Ambush Point,' triggering the 'Antimatter Disturbance Module' again to create a superimposed effect, inducing a brief paralysis lasting three to five breaths."
"Success rate: 85%."
"Phase Three: While the target's spiritual sea is in disarray, activate the 'Energy‑Gathering Fission System' to release an ion light wave. Use a straight‑line penetrating beam to destroy the target's Golden Core."
"Success rate: 80%."
"Cost: Releasing this attack will consume all remaining energy, and the system will enter passive hibernation."
"Current total remaining energy: 19%. Completing the first two phases is expected to consume 9%. The energy required to release the plasma light wave is 10%, representing the theoretical minimum combat model."
"This plan offers the highest probability of success under current circumstances."
"Execute?"
Mu Yun stood in the valley wind, his gaze calm.
"Execute."
The above was the data fed back by the system in Mu Yun's mind during the first thirty seconds after the ground erupted and the first set of "Antimatter Disturbance Modules" detonated in Phase One.
At that moment, just as the golden light chain was about to strike, the "Antimatter Disturbance Module" suddenly exploded, its high‑frequency oscillations instantly tearing through spiritual energy induction!
The black‑robed cultivator's spiritual pressure stalled. The golden light chain, which had been about to pierce Mu Yun's body, veered off course, slashing into the rock wall beside Mu Yun's shoulder!
"Disrupting divine consciousness?!"
The black‑robed man's expression darkened. His mind shook, but he quickly steadied himself, sweeping his divine consciousness toward where Mu Yun had been.
In the distance, a dark figure moved through the wind, flickering like a night sprite, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye.
"I will have all your secrets, Wei is determined! No matter where you flee!"
With a cold snort, the black‑robed man flicked his sleeve, his body trembling as he transformed into a beam of light and gave chase. His speed was so great that it triggered sonic booms, shaking the surrounding wilderness.
"Phase One interference complete. Target's spiritual sea fluctuation decreased by 37%. Bait successfully taken. Enemy entering preset route."
At that moment, Mu Yun glanced back, seeing the unrelenting beam of light closing in. A cold smile slowly curled at the corner of his mouth.
"I was afraid you wouldn't come!"
The mountain path wound, trees leaned askew, mist swirled. Mu Yun's figure darted like a shadow, not overly fast, yet every turn precisely evaded the enemy's spell attacks.
The black‑robed cultivator's eyes flashed with cold light, his divine consciousness locked tightly onto the fleeing light ahead, unwilling to relax in the slightest.
The air behind him churned, heaven and earth changing color.
He was wrapped in overwhelming fury!
"You may flee for a moment, but not forever!" he roared, increasing his speed once more. Air roared, leaves flew.
Just as he was about to close in, the terrain ahead changed. A crooked old tree lay across the mountain pass like a twisted dragon, its roots intertwined, vines hanging down.
Mu Yun's figure swept past, silently disappearing into the shadow of the tree. The next instant, the black‑robed cultivator also arrived.
And at that moment—hum…
The void trembled silently. A circle of transparent ripples suddenly expanded, like invisible water rings penetrating the surroundings.
The moment the black‑robed cultivator stepped inside, his heart leaped!
Within his spiritual sea, the previously stable divine consciousness suddenly faltered, as if stirred by an invisible blade. Waves surged.
He felt his mind roar, thoughts in chaos, like a thousand tangled threads. Control was lost in an instant!
"This disturbance again?!"
Before the words faded, a sharp pain exploded from his dantian. Energy surged backward through his meridians, his spiritual power running wild like an unbridled horse!
The black‑robed cultivator's arms stiffened, his legs grew heavy, his spiritual platform thundered, and his five senses became clouded.
"Damn it… this is… a double superimposition?!"
He struggled to circulate his magical power, but it was like trying to block a river with a finger. His footing grew unsteady—he almost lost his balance!
Three breaths.
Four breaths.
Five breaths.
The black‑robed cultivator's face turned ashen. His eyes narrowed, fury churning, but he could do nothing!
"Phase Two executed. Target's spiritual sea disorder index: 79%. Muscle control delay: 0.36 seconds. Paralysis duration: 2 seconds… that is, two breaths."
The black‑robed man's expression changed dramatically. "Not good…!"
But before he could regroup, the lean figure had already stood steadily before him.
Mu Yun stood in the wind, his right arm hanging down, his gaze deep as night.
He raised his right arm, pointing his index finger at the black‑robed cultivator from afar.
At his fingertip, a tremendous blue‑white light rapidly condensed.
The system's final prompt appeared:
"Energy‑Gathering Fission System activation complete."
"About to release: Plasma Light Wave."
"Warning: Current energy below 10%. After this strike, the system will completely shut down. Execute?"
Mu Yun's eyes sharpened, and he uttered two words in a low voice:
"Execute."
The next instant—
The entire valley fell silent!
A wisp of blue‑white light blossomed from his fingertip, like a meteor breaking the dawn, like lightning piercing the sky!
The plasma light wave tore through the air!
This strike required no incantation, no magical technique, no spell fluctuations.
It was simply—pure energy annihilation.
The black‑robed cultivator desperately activated his remaining spiritual power, trying to summon a spiritual shield!
But his Golden Core was already in chaos, his spiritual pressure disrupted. Before the shield could form, the light wave was upon him!
Boom!!!
The blue‑white light pierced through the valley floor. Its brilliance illuminated the forest for three li, and the explosion shook the heavens!
Cliffs shattered, rocks flew.
The black‑robed cultivator was struck dead center. His protective spiritual light collapsed within a single breath!
"…No!!!"
A charred, gaping hole burst open in his chest. His Golden Core shuddered violently and then cracked apart in mid‑air!
Boom!!
The Golden Core shattered!
The black‑robed man was instantly annihilated, reduced to dust!
The dust and ash slowly fell back onto the shattered valley.
…
Mu Yun stood where he was, his right arm blackened and mangled, broken stones rolling beneath his feet.
He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the flattened ground ahead, and exhaled softly.
Then came the system's cold final report in his ears:
"Nuclear Arc Reactor energy: zero."
"Antimatter Combat System entering low‑frequency operation."
"All tactical function systems shut down."
The next moment, Mu Yun's body swayed. Darkness flooded his vision. He could no longer hold on and fell backward.
…
The valley was silent.
Only the lingering traces of the all‑destructive white light still trembled faintly in the air.
…
Dozens of li away, deep in the forest.
A figure sat cross‑legged on the ground, his blue robes fluttering gently, his fingers slowly withdrawing from their hand seals.
The blue‑robed cultivator narrowed his eyes toward the horizon. In the distance, he could see a flash of lightning shattering the sky, and residual waves of spiritual pressure rolling toward him, shaking the treetops.
He murmured to himself, his brow slightly furrowed:
"Such a disturbance… it doesn't seem like an ordinary Golden Core spell. It looks more like the Killing Judgment Seal!"
"Since Senior Brother Wei has taken action, victory should be assured… but what is the origin of that man, to force him to use the Killing Judgment Seal?"
He pondered for a moment, then slowly put away his hand seals, his gaze turning cold:
"Enough. The fight has begun, so tracking is no longer necessary."
"I will simply wait… for Senior Brother Wei's return."
With that, he sprang up and disappeared into the forest.